Waggon & Horses, York

A rather good traditional, drinking sort of pub, perhaps a bit dowdy in appearance but friendly enough and well worth a visit. The selection of ales changes regularly, on this visit including examples from Batemans, Ossett, Roosters and Oakham, plus a couple of fruit ciders. Beware it doesn't open until 4 most days.

I cant believe it has taken me so long to visit this pub after trying all the others in close proximity numerous times. Out of the other real ale pubs next door and across the road the wagon and horses defiantly gets my vote as being the best of the bunch, and that's high praise considering the standard of the other two. On the outside the pub has a very bland and dated look, with the pub sign being very old and faded and looking like it could do with a good lick of paint. but once inside it is a wonderfully old style wooden floor boarded bar with stained glass and comfy bench seating. # The beer selection was excellent with three Bate,mans beers on offer XB (£3.00) XXXB (£3.10) Gold (£3.00) allong with five guest ales oakham Citra (£3.20) Tatanic Plumb Porter (3.20) Dark Star Hophead (£3.10) and brewsters Aromaticica (£3.20) as well as a few hand pulled ciders. the plump porter and Hophead were in fantastically fresh condition and the bar had very good background music playing that was difficult to hear as the pub was very busy and this was only a Monday evening with no special attraction on. This pub is thoroughly deserving of its place in the good beer guide and is one of my new favourite pubs in york, a brilliant find and a must visit.

A tidy local just outside the city walls. The main bar is to the right on entering, then a room off to the left with a bar billiards table in full working order. To the rear is a plush library room which I rather took to and it was a slight shame that I chose to be torn a new one on the BB table rather than simply meander back here for a quiet supping session. Upright piano, dart board and shut-the-box spotted. Seven ales available (I think) and a good selection, as well as three proper ciders. Apparently this is a Bateman tied house but I think there were only a couple of theirs actually on. My ale was a little lacklustre, toward the end of barrel I think. Should have got it replaced but the queue at the bar was too much for me. Worth the walk from town as part of the treble-header in the street, also involving the Rose and the Rook.

The Waggon and Horses is a multi-room pub with two rooms to the left and a front bar to the right with another room behind. At the rear are the toilets and the reception for the upstairs accommodation. There is seating in all areas of the pub and in the front left there is a bar billiards table. In the left rear area there is a dartboard with a laser oche, the likes of which I have not seen before. In the bar there is a plasma screen that was showing muted BT Sport. I counted ten hand pumps on the bar so there was enough choice to keep most happy. The service was friendly and I would have no problem returning.

I really liked this traditional Bateman's house, retaining a multi-room layout and a proper pub atmosphere. Nine of ten handpumps in operation, offering a decent choice of six real ales (including XXXB, £1.65, half) and three ciders. Only had time for a flying visit, but would certainly seek out again.

The Wagon and Horses probably shaded it as my favourite pub of the three we visited on Lawrence Street as I particularly liked the multi room set up with the contrast between the different spaces and especially between the traditional main bar room and the library room at the back, with its tiled floor, oak panelling and green leather seating which gave it a bit of a feel of a private room in a gentleman’s club. Also nice to see a bar billiard table fully functioning in one of the side rooms. Six ales and three ciders were on the go for our visit and the couple of Bateman’s beers I tried were in very good condition.